Imagine a classroom or studio where your students are confident, creative, and engaged—whether they’re playing classical, pop, jazz, fiddle, or their own original music.
This method gives you the first ever comprehensive, sequential system to teach harmony, improvisation, and arranging in eclectic styles at all levels—using a culturally relevant, emotionally engaging, and musically rigorous approach.
You don’t need to be a jazz expert. You don’t need to know how to improvise. You just need to show up and use the materials.
This is your invitation to transform your teaching, elevate your students, and reignite your joy through music.
Go from feeling unsure how to teach improvisation and groove… to confidently leading engaging, student-loved lessons in eclectic styles — so your students fall in love with music all over again and meet national standards.
Whether you’re teaching middle school orchestra, high school strings, private lessons, or even band or jazz ensemble, this method meets you where you are.
And right now, during this special launch, you can access the entire curriculum and training on a pay-what-you-can basis.
Let’s break down exactly what this is, why it matters, and how it will change your teaching forever.
Hi, I’m Christian Howes—jazz violinist, educator, and founder of Creative Strings. I’ve spent 30+ years touring internationally, recording 19 albums, and working with students and teachers in over 1,000 schools.
But it didn’t start that way.
I was trained in the Suzuki method from age five. By 18, I held a full-time violin job with a professional chamber orchestra. A few years later, I landed my dream gig with the Columbus Symphony.
I had everything a classically trained violinist could want—except the ability to create.
In high school, I joined a rock band and realized my self-taught bandmates had something I didn’t: creative freedom. They could jam, groove, and make things up on the spot. I could read anything, but without sheet music, I was lost.
That moment exposed a massive gap in my training—and changed the course of my life.
I dove headfirst into jazz, funk, folk, pop, and Latin styles. I played restaurants, clubs, and tours. I freelanced, recorded, and stretched myself in every setting imaginable. Eventually, I became one of NYC’s top-call improvising violinists and was invited to join the faculty at Berklee College of Music, where my curriculum became required for all string majors.
But the biggest transformation came when I walked away from it all.
In 2010, I left New York, stepped off the road, and returned to Ohio to focus on being a dad—and building something teachers actually need:
🎻 A practical, proven method to help string educators bring improvisation, groove, and creative musicianship into their classrooms with confidence.
Over 25 years, I’ve visited nearly 1,000 orchestra programs, worked alongside hundreds of teachers, and refined this approach through real-world trial and error.
What started as a messy experiment is now a comprehensive, field-tested method backed by:
Many of today’s most visible creative string educators started as my students. But I’m just as proud to support everyday teachers—the ones who feel boxed in by tradition, burned out by pressure, or unsure how to teach beyond the page.
Most teachers who want to explore improvisation, harmony, arranging, and eclectic styles try to piece it together with…
🎻 Most of us were trained to be experts in one tradition. Stepping into new territory without support feels risky.
📉 Without a clear framework, even the most passionate teachers burn out or give up trying to innovate.
Maybe you’ve tried before and hit a wall:
And you’ll do it all while reinforcing technique, musicianship, and student confidence.
Because this isn’t just about “doing jazz”, “learning how to chop”, or “getting creative”, and calling it a day.
It’s about giving you and your students a lifelong connection to music that’s relevant, expressive, and inspiring.
Most teachers think they need to master each eclectic style in order to teach it.
But the breakthrough comes when you stop chasing surface level aspects of style (vibratos, licks, sound effects, slides….) —
and instead focus on the universal creative skills that apply to them all.
🎵 Harmony, improvisation, rhythmic forms, arranging…
🧭 These are the fundamentals that give your teaching structure, freedom, and flow — across jazz, folk, Latin, pop, or any other style.
This method gives you that foundation through a clear system:
→ Structured and modal improvisation
→ Harmony and arranging with voice leading
→ Groove and rhythm
→ Micro improvisation, SEL integration, and play-along teaching
When you stop getting lost in the details and start seeing the forest for the trees —
that’s when everything shifts.
“Rather than focusing on what makes one style unique, this method aims to teach skills and understanding which are universally applicable across eclectic styles.”
Let’s be honest:
Many teachers are doing everything they can — and still feel like they’re falling short.
🎻 students are zoning out or dropping out.
📋 The standards, concerts, and contests, feel like a checklist.
😞 Your creative spark? It may be dimming as you feel stuck going through the motions
You’re not alone — and it’s not your fault.
This method isn’t here to add more to your plate.
It’s here to bring back the clarity, connection, and creativity that got you into teaching in the first place.
Last fall, 110 teachers joined our first Eclectic Styles Teacher cohort.
They said YES to:
✨ Breaking out of the “exclusively classical” rut
✨ Bringing creativity and joy into their classrooms
✨ Getting support from a community of like-minded educators
They paid anywhere from under $100 to over $2,000 — because we made it Pay What You Can.
We’re doing it again this fall. And you’re invited.
👉 Make music relevant to students today
→ So you’re not constantly fighting for their attention — they’ll want to show up.
Studies show up to 85% of students drop out of school music programs between 6th and 12th grade. Let’s change that.
👉 Celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion
→ No more relying on the same 3 composers — students will feel seen, heard, and inspired.
👉 Foster lifelong relationships with music
→ Move beyond “playing the notes” — help students discover their creative voice and confidence.
👉 Meet national music standards — naturally
→ Hit “Creating,” “Responding,” “Connecting,” and “Performing” without feeling forced.
👉 Promote Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
→ Use music to build empathy, trust, and expression — without having to be a therapist.
You’re not just teaching notes on a page.
You’re shaping how students relate to themselves, each other, and the world through sound.
This is more than a method. It’s a movement —
Toward music that reflects the world we live in.
Toward teaching that uplifts you and your students.
Toward results that actually last.
Spots are limited — we’ll work closely with a select group of teachers to:
🎓 Deliver the full curriculum in video + PDF form
🎯 Guide your implementation with training and coaching
📚 Support your students’ use of materials (via licensing)
👉 To get started, schedule a short call or text “I’m in” to 614-332-8689.
The first-ever comprehensive method for teaching harmony, improvisation, groove, and arranging to string players — through a wide range of eclectic styles.
When you join, you’ll receive:
A well-organized digital library of video trainings and PDF guides designed to help you teach confidently, creatively, and efficiently
To guide your implementation step-by-step
Including digital workbooks, notated exercises, and play-along videos — that can be shared directly with your students
Available as optional add-ons
Including coaching, group sessions, and personalized guidance if you want more help along the way
For broader student access depending on duration and number of users
🧑🏫 Built for classroom and private teachers
🎓 Adaptable for students from 1st-year beginners through Grade 12
🎷 (Yes — jazz and band directors are finding creative ways to use it too)
🎒 Use the full method or just a few modules. Apply it in your classroom, private studio, or group program — at your own pace and comfort level.
This isn’t just a collection of activities—it’s a tested, structured system designed to help your students become confident, creative, and musically expressive.
Why this matters: It’s designed to build confidence, emotional literacy (SEL), and a growth mindset alongside technical skills.
Why this matters: It deepens musical awareness and autonomy, while making scales relevant and approachable—you’re teaching how to think, not just what to play.
For 3rd-year players and up (or 7th grade+); basic reading recommended.
For students from first-year to advanced players, adaptable for all skill levels.
“I learned to groove by doing the two-step for months before I could touch my violin in an R&B band. It was the best musical training I ever had.”
Creativity doesn’t require complexity—just curiosity.
“One bar. Ten versions. That’s the game. That’s how creativity begins.”
Core Concept: Music as emotional growth. This module connects musical creativity with emotional intelligence. Students learn to self-regulate through breathwork, group cohesion exercises, and creative roles like student conductors. Teachers are equipped to use music as a tool for mindfulness, trauma healing, inclusion, and self-worth—both for students and themselves. Bonus: nervous system regulation strategies for classroom calm.
The emotional state of your students—and you—determines how deeply music can be learned.
Musical growth doesn’t just require scales and technique—it requires safety, confidence, and connection.
Students must feel regulated and seen before they can risk trying, failing, or expressing themselves through music.
🎯 Fact: A dysregulated nervous system shuts down creativity, learning, and connection.
🎯 Fact: A regulated nervous system accelerates learning, creativity, and resilience.
This module gives educators tools to regulate and support both their own nervous system and their students’. Because how we feel is the music.
This isn’t a “nice extra.” It’s the foundation for everything:
“Your teaching will only grow to the level your nervous system can hold.”
“Before you can lead your students to calm and focus, you must practice finding it yourself.”
Teach less. Lead more. Let the music do the work.
Play-along teaching isn’t just a delivery method — it’s a transformation in how students absorb and internalize music.
When students play with you in real time — instead of watching or waiting for instructions — everything changes:
This module shows you exactly how to use play-along formats to teach technique, improvisation, harmony, rhythm, and expression — without stopping the music.
🎯 Research shows: Students learn faster when immersed in real-time, participatory experiences — especially when those experiences engage multiple senses (visual, aural, kinesthetic).
This method reduces overthinking and increases:
It’s especially ideal for:
Access curated play-along sessions by:
👉 See the full directory of Play-Along Lessons here
(Teachers may share unlisted videos with students from August to December 2025 under standard licensing. Share the public directory or connect colleagues with us directly for full access.)
Includes:
From basic rhythm to advanced improvisation over jazz changes — the Play-Along Method gives students an “onstage” experience from Day One. Use it to teach:
“The fastest way to learn a language is immersion. The fastest way to learn music… is to play along.”
Each module includes downloadable lessons, backing tracks, video demos, and student-friendly exercises. The result? Students stay engaged, learn deeply, and feel seen. Teachers regain their spark, with a flexible method that works in your classroom, on your terms.
(Optional add-on)
Get access to the full Creative Strings Academy — a vibrant, high-touch ecosystem for ongoing support and growth.
Includes:
You’ll be able to share student-facing materials directly — including digital workbooks, videos, scores, and play-alongs — with your entire classroom or studio, based on your chosen licensing tier.
No extra tech or printing needed.
As a participant, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for certification in this method — making it easier to validate your creative pedagogy for admins, grants, or your résumé.
Once you enroll, this is yours to keep. You’ll get ongoing access to the full Teacher’s Manual and student materials, even as the method evolves.
This isn’t just a course — it’s a movement. As part of our founding educator cohort, you may be invited to:
Shape the future of creative music education
In our very first round, 110 teachers joined from schools, studios, and orchestras worldwide. Some paid less than $100, others invested over $2,000—all choosing based on their context, number of students served, and desired access level.
How did this work so smoothly?
Simple Values, Sophisticated Support
Option A: Schedule a Call
(Just 5–10 minutes — let’s talk quickly about your school, studio, or program’s needs.)
Option B: Join the Waitlist
Prefer to get the details before chatting? That’s totally fine — we’ll keep you posted on enrollment options.
Under $200
Individual/private teacher, up to 20 student licenses, self-paced access
$500–$1,000
Small school or studio access (up to 100 students), playback licenses, core curriculum
$1,500+
Full school/district deployment, unlimited student licenses
All tiers come with the foundational tools and optional access to bonuses like Creative Strings Academy, certification pathway, legacy ownership, and early-collaborator invitations.
“Pay-What-You-Can” = not less. It means access adjusted for where you teach and how many students you serve.
If you’re ready to bring confidence, creativity, and retention back to your classroom—or even your own playing—let’s make it happen together.
Absolutely. Whether you’re teaching an ensemble or coaching musicians one-on-one, the method covers 1st-year beginners through Grade 12. It’s flexible by design—so you can adapt it to your teaching environment.
Yes—and many already do. While rooted in string pedagogy, the principles of groove, improvisation, harmony, and play-along styles translate easily to jazz, band, and orchestral settings.
Enrollment comes with licensing to share student-facing materials—workbooks, play-along videos, and scores. Licensing levels are tailored to your context (private vs. school setting, number of students, and duration).
No. PWYC means maximizing access while tailoring support to your situation—whether you serve 10 students or 200. You’ll choose your level during a brief onboarding conversation, which simply ensures your setup is right for your needs.
It’s not a sales call—it’s a success-supporting orientation to make sure this method meets your goals and context. Confirming expectations means you’re set up to implement and get results.
Definitely. National studies show that up to 80% of students drop out of school music between middle and high school. This method addresses that by making music relevant, inclusive, and emotionally magnetizing—for students and teachers.
No problem. Each module includes quick-win activities (like structured improvisation and micro-exercises) that are intuitive, low-barrier, and affirming. You can start small—and build creative confidence step by step.
Yes! Alongside your Teacher’s Manual and resources, you can access the Creative Strings Academy which offers coaching (1-on-1 and group), community, and implementation check-ins.
You’ll own it for life. Yes—lifetime (legacy) access to all digital materials is included in every enrollment tier.
Yes—once you’re enrolled, you can apply to become a certified practitioner of the Eclectic Styles Teaching Method, which enhances your credibility and teaching toolkit.
We’re building a movement. As a founding cohort member, you may have the opportunity to shape future training, share your story, and collaborate directly in program development. It’s open, creative, and community-powered.
Here’s everything you’ll gain when you join the Eclectic Styles Teaching Method:
Lifetime access to the Teacher’s Manual — packed with videos, PDFs, and play-along tools
Student materials you’re licensed to share — including workbooks, scores, and tracks
Supportive pathways like Creative Strings Academy coaching, community, and optional certification
Creative freedom aligned with national standards and elevated by SEL
A movement-building cohort of fellow teachers — ready to push boundaries together
You’ll pay what fits your context — ranging from under $100 to $2,000+ — and we’ll make sure your setup supports you, not just your students.
A short welcome call is all it takes to customize your launch.
1. Schedule a Call
Click the link below to book a 5–10 minute chat.
So you get what’s right for your role — private teacher, school leader, or orchestra director.
2. Join the Waitlist
Enter your email and I’ll keep you in the loop about openings.
Stay informed — even if you’re not ready for a call yet.
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